Registration begins for the Institute for Disaster Mental Health conference at SUNY New Paltz in April

NEW PALTZ >> Registration is open for the 11th Institute for Disaster Mental Health conference, “Why Don’t People Listen? The Whole Community and Communicating in a Crisis,” scheduled April 25, on the SUNY New Paltz Campus at 1 Hawk Drive, according to a news release.

The event will examine why is it so difficult to convince some people to take protective actions that could prevent them from experiencing harm in a disaster or crisis.

“We hope this conference will ... bring together emergency response professionals, mental health providers, healthcare professionals, law enforcement personnel and students preparing for careers in these areas, to learn real skills from experts in the field,” said Dr. Karla Vermeulen, acting director of the institute.

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The conference will open with remarks from school President Donald Christian, U.S. Rep. Chris Gibson, R-Kinderhook, and Jerome Hauer of the state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services.